Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/297

Rh forming part of the pavement of the small Decorated church of Repps, in the same county. This stone is slightly coped, and the cross with its accompanying ornaments are rudely, but still boldly executed in low relief. The church of Repps, though a very unpretending structure, possesses an excellent specimen of the circular flint towers of such frequent occurrence in this district; it is surmounted by an octagonal heading of ashlar, so arranged as to form an arcade pierced towards the cardinal points with open windows, all in good preservation. It is probable that the stone last described commemorates the founder of the Norman tower of this church, and that consequently its date would be in the eleventh century.

The singular ring, of which a representation is here given, is in the possession of the Rev. Walter Sneyd. It is of mixed yellow metal, gilt; on either side of the hoop there is a crown, of the form commonly seen on coins or money of the twelfth century, and on the signet are the words,, chased in high relief. In the form of the character they correspond closely with legends on coins of Roger, second duke of Apulia of the name, crowned king of Sicily, A.D. 1129: he died A.D. 1152. Roger I., deceased A.D. 1101, had expelled the Saracens, and taken possession of the whole of Sicily. This ring has every appearance of genuine character; but it is difficult to explain for what purpose it was fabricated, the inscription not being inverted, and the letters in relief ill-suited for producing an impression. It seems very improbable that King Roger should have worn a ring of base metal, and the conjecture may deserve consideration, that it was a signet not intended for the purpose of sealing, but entrusted, in lieu of credentials, to some envoy.

The gold ornament here represented is in the possession of Mr. J. N. Paton, sen., F.S.A., Scotland; it is reported to have been found on the field of Floddon. Its weight is 8 dwts. 17 grs. A somewhat similar gold ring, but of less weight, found in the church-yard of Dunfermline, the burial-place of King Robert Bruce, was purchased a few years since by Mr. Paton; but it is no longer in his possession. The junction of this ring had been ornamented with a precious stone. A third, resembling the ring above represented, was dug up, a few years since, on the field of Bannockburn, and is now in the possession of a person residing in Stirlingshire. These particulars, with a drawing by the skilful hand of Mr. Pidgeon of Liverpool, have been received through the Rev. Dr. Hume, Local Secretary of the Institute in that city, who is engaged in preparing for publication a detailed account of the curious remains discovered near the mouth of the Dee, to which allusion has been made in the last Journal.